The Home Affairs Minister says he'd welcome a debate on drug laws, but remains convinced prohibition is the best way of dealing with substances like heroin and cocaine.
Juan Watterson was speaking after an article by Durham police's chief constable, Mike Barton, appeared in the Observer newspaper.
In it, he said Class A drugs should be decriminalised and addicts treated and cared for, not prosecuted.
Chief Constable Barton also called for an open debate on the problems caused by drugs.
Mr Watterson says the situation in the Isle of Man is different to that in the UK:
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